Debra L. Barton PhD, FAAN, RN

Debra Barton, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., has dedicated her career to mitigating many of the difficult symptoms patients experience throughout the trajectory of cancer care, from diagnosis to survivorship. She has been one of the most prolific nurse scientists conducting research in the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). She has served as the principal investigator on more than 15 randomized clinical trials in symptom management. Her research focuses on preventing and treating symptoms such as hot flashes, fatigue, nausea, and peripheral neuropathy, as well as studying the impact on sexual health, cognitive function, and sleep.

A key finding in one trial demonstrated ginseng tea’s ability to ease cancer-related fatigue, while another found a topical treatment could lessen patients’ debilitating nerve pain from treatment-associated neuropathies. Dr. Barton holds the position of Mary Lou Willard French professor of oncology nursing and associate dean for research and graduate studies at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. Among other career affiliations, she is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (F.A.A.N.). She served as co-chair of the NCI Symptom Management and Quality of Life Steering Committee for two terms and currently is one of two representatives from the NRG NCORP Research Base. She served as editor-in-chief for 4 years on the Physician Data Query (PDQ) Supportive and Palliative Care Editorial Board, which provides summaries of current advances in supportive and palliative care to patients and providers.